Self-propelled steerable walk behind mower linkage
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a steering and safety linkage for a self-propelled walk behind mower. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional wide area self-propelled walk behind mowers typically contain a front mower deck, nondriven front caster wheels, a power source such as an engine or motor, and two ground engaging rear wheels driven by the power source. The operator steers the mower by one of the driven rear wheels. For example, if a brake were applied to the left rear driven wheel or its drive were disengaged, the mower would change its direction of travel to the left, and would change its direction of travel to the right if a brake were applied to the right rear wheel or its drive were declutched. The operator applies the brake and/or clutch to the wheels by manipulating respective steering control levers mounted on the operator handles located at the rear of the mower. 
     A first type of conventional self propelled walk behind mower provides for the rear wheels to be engaged during operation unless the operator actuates one of the wheel control levers to declutch or brake the respective wheel. With this type of mower control, the operator walks behind the mower as it propels itself forward, and he engages the left or right steering lever when he desires to change the direction of travel. When one of the steering levers is engaged, its respective wheel is thereby caused to be declutched, or declutched and braked. The mower turns about the wheel being declutched and/or braked. Since the wheel drives are in a driving mode when the steering levers are released, the operator must lock them out of their engaged position by locking devices positioned on the operator handles near the steering levers in order to start the mower. Once the mower is started, the operator can then release the locks and gradually release the steering levers to initiate forward progress of the mower. To stop the progress of the mower the operator must engage both steering levers simultaneously, thereby braking both rear wheels. To park the mower, the operator applies the locking devices to the steering levers once they have been positioned in a declutched and/or braked configuration. The mower will then remain declutched and/or braked if the operator leaves the vehicle. If the operator were to start the mower without first applying the locking devices to the controls, the controls would be in their driven mode and the wheels would begin to proceed forward once started. Some mowers of this type are provided with an electrical starter switch that prevents the engine from being started while in a driving mode. 
     It is known to modify the above described mower by including a speed select lever between the operator handles that has a neutral setting and a plurality of driving speed settings. The speed select lever controls whether the shaft that transfers power to the wheels is in a neutral mode wherein the engine is not driving the shaft, or in a driven mode wherein the engine is driving the shaft via a set of gears. The operator places the speed selector in its neutral setting when starting the engine. To initiate forward movement of the mower, the operator shifts the speed selector to a setting corresponding to a desired speed. If the locking devices are engaged when the speed selector has been shifted, then the operator must disengage the locking devices and slowly release the wheel control levers to initiate forward movement. The operator depresses the respective wheel control lever during operation to execute a turn. In order to stop the mower&#39;s movement, the operator must either actuate both wheel control levers simultaneously or shift the speed selector to the neutral setting, which will allow the mower to coast to a stop. It is also known to include on such mowers an electrical switch mechanism that runs between the speed select lever and the engine that prevents the engine from being started when the speed select lever is not in the neutral position. 
     A second type of conventional mower provides a single transversely extending pivotable bar that controls the driving and braking of each rear wheel. As the operator pushes forward on the control bar the rear wheel drives are engaged and the mower moves forward. As the operator pulls back on the control bar, the wheel drives are declutched and then braked. When the operator pivots the left or right side of the bar backwardly, the corresponding rear wheel becomes disengaged while the other wheel continues to be driven to turn the mower about the disengaged wheel. As the operator pulls back further on that side of the bar, the corresponding wheel becomes braked and the mower executes an even sharper turn about that wheel. When the operator releases the bar, both wheels become disengaged and the mower coasts to a stop. To brake the mower, the operator must pull back on the bar. Therefore, the mower&#39;s drive is disengaged as the operator releases the control bar, but the brake is not simultaneously applied. To park the mower, the operator pulls back the bar, swings a brake lever forwardly and upwardly and wedges the brake lever against a stationary hand rest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a steerable self-propelled mower that minimizes operator fatigue and also provides for the wheel drive control to automatically be returned to a braked configuration to prevent or stop movement of the mower when the operator is not actually engaging the drive controls. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a self-propelled mower is provided having a double-handled dead man control lever and separate left and right steering control levers. Left and right combination clutch and brake control levers selectively drive, disengage the clutch, and brake the respective rear wheels. 
     As the dead man control lever is depressed by the operator, a linkage causes the wheel drives to unbrake, then be clutched and finally driven. When this lever is released, the wheels are automatically declutched and braked. 
     To turn the mower during operation, the operator depresses a selected wheel steering control lever, which causes that wheel to be declutched and then braked. Provision is made in the control linkage to provide for infinitely variable braking and drive engagement consistent with the degree of lever engagement or depression provided by the operator. In this manner, the operator can brake sharply or gradually and/or drive the wheels at a slow or maximum speed. When the dead man control lever is released, the linkage allows both lever arm members to swing outwardly to brake both wheels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the left side of a mower according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operator control levers and linkage. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the linkage of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the linkage in a position corresponding to the mower being braked or parked. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the linkage in a position corresponding to the dead man control lever being applied and both steering control levers being actuated. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the linkage in a position corresponding to straight forward movement of the mower. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the linkage in a position corresponding to the execution of a right turn by the mower. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail. References made within the following description to &#34;left&#34; or &#34;right&#34; refer to the operator&#39;s left or right as he walks behind the mower during operation. 
     The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, pertains to a walk behind mower 10 having left and right rear driven wheels 12, 14 which support a frame 16, and upwardly and rearwardly extending operator handles 18. Front ground engaging caster wheels 20 support a front mower deck 22 attached to the frame 16. An engine 24 carried by the frame 16 drives a cutter blade within the mower deck 22 via a series of belts and pulleys. The engine 24 also drives the rear wheels 12, 14 via drive mechanisms referred to herein as left and right transmissions. Swingably mounted on the upper rear portion of the operator handles 18 is a double ended dead man control lever 26 (See FIGS. 1 &amp; 2). Operator handle grips 28, 30 are formed integral with the upper ends of the operator handles 18. 
     Right and left steering control levers 32, 34 are swingably mounted beneath respective handle grips 28, 30. Holes 36 are defined in each steering control lever, through which pass left and right first link rods 38, 40. A nut 42 is threaded on each first link rod 38, 40 above the steering control levers 32, 34. The lower ends of the first link rods 38, 40 define a downwardly turned portion 44 pivotably received within openings 46 formed in respective left and right L-shaped bell cranks 48, 50. The bell cranks 48, 50 are rotatably fixed to the frame 16 by bolts 52. Left and right second link rods 54, 56 are swingably received within another opening 58 defined in the respective bell cranks 48, 50. These second link rods 54, 56 extend toward the center of the mower 10 and have attached a first U-shaped member 60. 
     Looking now to FIGS. 2 &amp; 4, there is shown first headed shafts 62, 64 which are positioned within openings 66, 68 in the ends of the first U-shaped members 60. The first headed shafts 62, 64 are received within openings 70, 72 defined in respective left and right arm members 74, 76. The first headed shafts 62, 64 are held in place within the first U-shaped members 60 and the openings 70, 72 in the arm members 74, 76 by pin members 78 positioned at the bottom of the first headed shafts 62, 64. The arm members 74, 76 each define a forward opening 80, 82 that receives a transmission mode selection input shaft 84, 86 protruding from each transmission. The transmission mode selection input shafts 84, 86 have flatted features 88, 90 that correspond to flatted features defined in the forward openings 80, 82 in the arm members 74, 76. Snap rings or similar means can be used to hold the arm members 74, 76 in place on the transmission mode selection input shafts 84, 86. 
     Returning to FIGS. 1 &amp; 2, a forwardly and upwardly extending tab 94 is fixed to the center of the transverse portion of the dead man control lever 26. An opening 96 is defined in the tab 94 that receives the upper end of a center link rod 98. A second U-shaped member 100 (FIGS. 2 &amp; 3) is threaded onto the lower end of the center link rod 98 and receives a second headed shaft 102. The second headed shaft 102 is held within a first opening 104 in a center bell crank 106. The bell crank 106 is pivotably supported by a support pin 108 held by the frame 16. A first connection member 110 is fixed to the center bell crank 106 via a third headed shaft 112. The first connection member 110 receives a center tension rod 114, and a nut 116 is threaded to the rearward end of the center tension rod 114. The center tension rod 114 passes through an opening 118 in a bracket 120, and is surrounded by compression spring 122. The spring 122 presses against a spring retainer 124, which abuts a second connection member 126. The second connection member 126 is held in place by a nut 128 threaded on the forward end of the tension member 114. The second connection member 126 receives a headed slide pin 130 that engages the rearward ends of left and right tie members 132, 134. The lower end of the headed slide pin 130 is received within a slot 136 defined in the bracket 120. Washers 142 are positioned on the headed slide pin 130 between the second connection member 126 and the bracket 120. The forward ends of the tie members 132, 134 carry headed pins 144, 146 that are received within slots 148, 150 defined in the respective left and right arm members 74, 76, thus forming a lost motion coupling between the tie members 132, 134 and the arm members 74, 76. 
     The positions of the left and right transmission mode selection input shafts 84, 86 determine whether the respective rear wheel 12, 14 is in a driven, a clutch disengaged, or a braked mode, or somewhere within any of the ranges of those modes. The left and right arm members 74, 76 control the position of the transmission mode selection input shafts 84, 86. For example, when the rearward end of each arm member 74, 76 is positioned near the center of the mower 10 or closest to the centerline X--X between them, the corresponding transmission mode selection input shaft 84, or 86 is in a driven mode and the corresponding wheel is being driven by the engine 24. When the rearward end of an arm member 74, or 76 is swung away from the center line X--X of the mower 10 and to a position intermediate its range of motion, the corresponding transmission mode selection input shaft 84, or 86 is put in a clutch disengaged mode such that the wheel is allowed to roll freely on the ground. As the arm member 74, 76 approaches its extreme outward position moved away from the centerline X--X, the corresponding transmission mode selection input shaft 84, or 86 is placed in its braked mode. In the braked mode the wheel&#39;s clutch remains disengaged and a brake is applied to slow the wheel&#39;s rotation. A spring can be provided internal to each transmission to bias each transmission mode selection input shaft 84, 86 toward its driven mode. Alternatively, other biasing means such as a spring can be provided external to the transmissions to urge the tie members 132, 134 toward each other. 
     Next, the operation of the mower will be explained. Once the engine 24 is started, the operator initiates forward progress of the mower 10 by pressing down the dead man control lever 26. This causes the tab 94 (FIG. 2) to swing upward, which pulls the center link rod 98 upward. The center bell crank 106 is thereby rotated backward and upward about its pivot axis through pin 108. The first connection member 110, center tension rod 114, and second connection member 126 thereby move rearwardly against the force of the compression spring 122. This causes the headed slide pin 130 to move rearwardly within the slot 136 defined in the bracket 120. The headed slide pin 130 pulls back on the rearward end of the tie members 132, 134, and the arm members 74, 76 are thereby allowed to swing toward each other to the center of the mower 10 due to the force of the springs internal to the transmissions. The transmission mode selection input shafts 84, 86 are thereby caused to rotate into their respective driving modes, and the wheels 12, 14 become driven. 
     Once the mower 10 begins to move forward in the above described manner, the operator can change the direction of travel by engaging one of the steering control levers 32, 34. When the right steering lever 32 is depressed, for example, the right first link rod 40 moves upward, causing the right bell crank 50 to rotate and pull the second right link rod 56 outwardly from the center of the mower. The second right link rod 56 pulls the right arm member 76 outward to the right, which causes the right headed pin 146 to slide within the slot 150 defined in the right arm member 76. The right tie member 134 remains stationary as the right second link rod 56 pulls the right arm member 76 outwardly, and the headed slide pin 130 therefore also remains stationary. Since the headed slide pin 130 has not moved, the left tie member 132, left arm member 74, and left transmission mode selection input shaft 84 remain stationary. Therefore, the slot 150 formed in the right arm member 76 allows the right arm member 76 to be moved outwardly without altering the position of the left arm member 74. As the right arm member 76 swings outward the right transmission mode selection input shaft 86 changes from driven, to clutch disengaged, to braked mode. The right wheel 14 is thereby braked while the left wheel 12 remains driven, causing the mower to turn about its right wheel 14. As the operator depresses the left steering control lever 34, the mower 10 similarly executes a turn to the left. 
     In order to slow or stop the mower 10, the operator can depress both steering levers 32, 34 at once, which causes both arm members 74, 76 to sWing outWardly. Both rear wheels 12, 14 are thereby braked, and the mower 10 comes to a halt. The operator can also release the dead man control arm 26 to stop the mower 10. This allows the center link rod 98 to move downwardly due to the force of the spring 122, which causes the center tension rod 114 to move forward and the headed slide pin 130 to slide forward in the slot 136 formed in the bracket 120. The left and right arm members 74, 76 are thereby caused to swing outwardly to disengage each clutch and brake both wheels 12, 14. 
     The steering control levers 32, 34 and dead man control lever 26 of the preferred embodiment can be positioned by the operator in an infinite number of intermediate positions between the fully released and fully depressed positions. Each transmission can similarly assume an infinite number of modes between the braked mode, the disengaged mode, and the driven mode as the operator manipulates the control levers 26, 32, 34. The operator is thereby able to select the exact forward speed that he desires as well as the exact turning radius he desires. This feature also allows the operator to gradually change the speed of the mower 10 or gradually change the turning radius by slowly manipulating the controls 26, 32, 34 through their continuum of positions. 
     When the operator leaves the operator station, he releases the dead man control lever 26, which will disengage the clutches that drive the wheels 12, 14 and will apply a brake to both wheels 12, 14. 
     FIGS. 4-7 depict the various configurations the linkage can assume during operation. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the linkage when the mower 10 is in a braked or parked mode, which corresponds to the dead man control lever 26 being released and both steering control levers 32,34 being released. The spring 122 has urged the headed slide pin 130 forwardly within the slot 136, which swings the tie members 132, 134 away from each other. This causes the headed pins 144, 146 to move away from the center of the mower 10, line X--X, which places the arm members 74, 76 in an extreme position outwardly of the center of the mower 10. The outward position of the arm members 74, 76 corresponds to the transmission input shafts&#39; braked modes. 
     FIG. 6 depicts the configuration corresponding to straight forward movement of the mower 10. In this case, the dead man control lever 26 has been engaged, which pulls back on the center tension rod 114 against the force of the spring 122. This moves the headed slide pin 130 rearwardly within the slot 136 and allows the tie members 132, 134 and arm members 74, 76 to be swung toward the center of the mower due to the force of the spring internal to each transmission. As the dead man control lever 26 is engaged, the arm members 74, 76 are caused to swing inwardly to an extreme position, at which point the dead man control lever 26 can still be pushed down further by the operator. This causes the headed pins 144, 146 to shift within the slots 148, 150 away from the outer edge of the slot 148, 150 to an intermediate position as shown in FIG. 6. 
     FIG. 5 shows the configuration assumed by the linkage when the dead man control lever 26 is fully depressed and both steering control levers 32, 34 are actuated. The center tension rod 114 and headed slide pin 130 are in extreme rearward positions. The second link rods 54, 56 have been pulled outwardly due to the engagement of the steering control levers 32, 34. This causes the arm members 74, 76 to swing outward to a braked position. The slots 148, 150 in the arm members allow the arm members to swing outwardly without altering the positions of the headed pins 144, 146 or the headed slide pin 130. 
     FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the linkage as the mower is executing a turn to the right. The dead man control lever 26 is fully engaged and the center tension rod 114 and headed slide pin 130 are therefore in an extreme rearward position. The right steering control lever 32 is actuated, which causes the second right link rod 56 to pull the right arm member 76 outwardly. The slot 150 in the right arm member 76 allows the right arm member 76 to swing outward without altering the position of the headed pins 144, 146 or the headed slide pin 130. The right arm member 76 and transmission input shaft 86 can thereby be manipulated independent of the left arm member 74 and transmission input shaft 84. In this manner, the mower 10 can execute turns during operation. 
     The present invention therefore provides a direct drive self-propelled walk behind mower that is steerable and that includes a safety feature that brakes the mower when the operator leaves the operator station. The mower is normally in a braked, parked state. Further, operator fatigue is minimized since the dead man control lever can easily be held down with either or both of the operator&#39;s hands. 
     The preferred embodiment as described above pertains to a mower having gear driven rear wheels, and having driven, clutch disengaged, and braked modes. However, the present invention can also be utilized on belt driven and hydrostatically driven mowers, as well as mowers having only driven and braked modes.